As your parents age at home, the goal is for them to remain independent and safe. Have you looked at these advancements in technology that are helping heighten safety and keep older adults from feeling alone or isolated? Here are some of 2021’s technology that helps seniors age at home.
Aladin Smart Lamp
Aladin is a smart lamp designed for nursing homes, but it’s becoming a popular option for older adults who live alone. The wall-mounted lamp operates using motion sensors that tell when your mom or dad gets up and is moving around in the dark.
With Aladin’s help, the pathway to a bathroom or bedroom door is illuminated well to prevent falls. At the same time, the lamp is tracking how often your parents are getting up. It does the same in the day. If it notices an increased number of trips to the bathroom, it notes it and alerts those in the contact list.
The other thing Aladin does is monitor for falls. If your mom or dad does fall, Aladin immediately contacts those in the family list and a telecare representative to make sure the right level of help is provided.
With a minor fall, paramedics may not be needed but family members should know. If Aladin notices your parent hasn’t moved after falling, it would call for an ambulance and alert family members.
Aladin can also track the home’s indoor temperature, the area weather, and how often your parents are up and moving around versus being inactive. The smart lamp comes in sets of three, so put one in the rooms your parents frequent most.
FallCall Detect
You need an Apple Watch to use FallCall Detect. Together, the app senses if your parent falls and detects the intensity of that fall. If it’s a minor fall, family caregivers would get an alert. If the sensors detect a lack of movement after the fall, emergency responders get a call.
It tracts your parents’ movements all day and lets you know when they’re active. There’s also an app that makes it easier for your parents to reach out to you if they need something and for you to make sure they’re okay.
Virtual Reality Headsets
While the technology in a VR headset isn’t new, it’s a device that’s gaining ground with the elderly population. Older adults are using these headsets to take virtual chair yoga classes, walk around the streets in a foreign town, or explore a historic site.
When you first put on a VR headset, it can feel odd. As you get used to it, your balance and stability return. Have your mom or dad sit down at first to prevent a fall.
As much as technology can offer, it’s not a replacement for human contact. Support your parents as they age at home by making yourself available to help them with daily activities. Stop by with prescription refills or join them for dinner.
When you’re at work or taking care of your own obligations, use senior care services to ensure your parents have all of the help they need. Senior care aides can help with meals, cleaning, laundry, medication reminders, and much more. They can also be there to assist your senior with things that technology can’t, like getting into and out of bed, getting dressed, help with an exercise regimen, transportation to and from appointments, etc.
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior care in Lockwood, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
